CPSU TASMANIA WELCOMES SENATE RECOMMENDATIONS

Community and Public Sector Union

CPSU TASMANIA WELCOMES SENATE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Community and Public Sector Union in Tasmania is calling on the ABC to commit to a key Senate recommendation and consult regularly with the regional TV production industry about its plans.
The recommendations call on the ABC to commit to regional areas including Tasmania by consulting with stakeholders and reporting on their regional output.

It was one of five recommendations made by a Senate committee charged with investigating the ABC’s commitment to reflecting and representing regional diversity. It was set up in the wake of an ABC decision to close the TV production unit in Tasmania with the loss of 16 jobs.

In the face of a retreat by the public broadcaster from regional programming the CPSU had been campaigning hard for the stipulation of consultation.

The union, which represents ABC workers, also welcomed other recommendations made by the Environment and Communications References Committee.

The ABC should also be required to publish regularly how much it spends on TV production in the regions, the number of hours broadcast, the number of programs produced and the number of independent production companies used, according to the committee.

The committee also called for the establishment of a regional production fund that would be used exclusively to underwrite TV programs made outside of Sydney and Melbourne.

CPSU Regional Secretary for Tasmania Paul Blake said: “These recommendations signal to the ABC that politicians, community groups, and the public genuinely want regional voices telling regional stories.”

It also demonstrates that the work of the Tasmanian ABC Production Unit was valued and important. We call on the ABC to commit to these recommendations and explain how they can be implemented in Tasmania.”

HERE: Copy of the report:
http://aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=ec_ctte/completed_inquiries/2010-13/abc_production/report/index.htm
CPSU Regional Secretary for Tasmania Paul Blake